CRANBERRY TWP — UPMC on Wednesday introduced the man who will oversee the sports medicine department at the new UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex, and it's a very familiar name to fans of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Officials from both UPMC and the Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed former player Gary Roberts during a news conference Wednesday at the facility.

Roberts, who doesn't yet have an official title, will serve as the name and face of UPMC's sports medicine complex at the new facility.

The 48-year-old veteran spent nearly 25 years in the National Hockey League, overcoming career-threatening injuries to his neck on more than one occasion.

His intense training and fitness regimen has been credited with dramatically lengthening his career.

Following his retirement from hockey in 2009, Roberts devoted his time to training young players coming up through the ranks.

Roberts played with the Penguins from 2006 to 2008 and was a big part of a team that went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2008.

“I can't wait to get started,” Roberts said, noting he will start his position when the facility opens in August.